I have been diagnosed with RA. and am experiencing severe pain in shoulders, wrists, knees, toe, and right heel. Is there a teacher out there that has a similiar problem? Is it effecting your teaching abilities? and how do you deal with it? I am deciding to leave my position and to deal with this pain. Am I making the right decision?

hi,
I am 28 and i am a high school teacher, i have have arthur since i was a baby on and off. When i have a flare up it can effect my teaching abilities, at the moment i am feeling pretty rotten, on crutches, but i am still teaching although i don't know how long that will last.
Because i find that my disease fluctuates so much i am resisting making any perminant decisions.
I have always kept the school well informed as to what is going on and what could be happening in the near future. They have been really good so far.
I live in Scotland and we have the Disability Discrimination act which is helping me out although i haven't had to use it officially yet my school knows it needs to follow the rules. It includes chronic diseases such as arthritis and states that the employer needs to adapt within reason to help the employee do their job. I am only doing basic teaching duties now, no student commitees, no form class in the morning, no afterschool clubs. I did enjoy each of these tasks but i just don't have the energy or the mobility at the mo.
The kids have also been really good since i have been on crutches, fetching their projects, folders, tools out themselves.

The thing that a lot of people forget is arthritis does more than affect your joints, it also drains your energy too.
Is it possable that you could go part time, take sick leave to give your meds time to get to work.
Being diagnosed does not always mean it is the end of your career, if you have just been diagnosed you have probaly not had access to the correct drugs till now, remicade, humira, methatrexate, etc. If you have just been on painkillers then you haven't had a chance to fight the cause.
I don't know how badly you are effected or how mobile you need to be, do you teach young or older kids.
If you leave your post will you still have access to medical treatment, from what i read that is not the case if you are in America?

I hope i have helped some, i am happy to help more if you want,

Thistle

hi,
I am 28 and i am a high school teacher, i have have arthur since i was a baby on and off. When i have a flare up it can effect my teaching abilities, at the moment i am feeling pretty rotten, on crutches, but i am still teaching although i don't know how long that will last.
Because i find that my disease fluctuates so much i am resisting making any perminant decisions.
I have always kept the school well informed as to what is going on and what could be happening in the near future. They have been really good so far.
I live in Scotland and we have the Disability Discrimination act which is helping me out although i haven't had to use it officially yet my school knows it needs to follow the rules. It includes chronic diseases such as arthritis and states that the employer needs to adapt within reason to help the employee do their job. I am only doing basic teaching duties now, no student commitees, no form class in the morning, no afterschool clubs. I did enjoy each of these tasks but i just don't have the energy or the mobility at the mo.
The kids have also been really good since i have been on crutches, fetching their projects, folders, tools out themselves.

The thing that a lot of people forget is arthritis does more than affect your joints, it also drains your energy too.
Is it possable that you could go part time, take sick leave to give your meds time to get to work.
Being diagnosed does not always mean it is the end of your career, if you have just been diagnosed you have probaly not had access to the correct drugs till now, remicade, humira, methatrexate, etc. If you have just been on painkillers then you haven't had a chance to fight the cause.
I don't know how badly you are effected or how mobile you need to be, do you teach young or older kids.
If you leave your post will you still have access to medical treatment, from what i read that is not the case if you are in America?

I hope i have helped some, i am happy to help more if you want,

Thistle
I teach adults. They have helped a great deal, but I feel so drained in the afternoon. This RA is also coupled with muscle spasms in both forearms. The muscle spasms are sporatic, so I never know when they will occur. It does become very difficult to write on the chalkboard, much less carry textbooks around. I think also I am getting very depressed because I love to teach adults. This was my niche in life. I am 49 and a grandmother. All my children have gone on with their lives, but my husband has been a god send. And now I can't seem to get the energy to get up in class and teach. This is very depressing. I've been put on Prextige, and whenever there is conflict that I have deal with among the students - my RA flares up along with muscle spasms. I've been on Prextige for 1 month now. So I don't know if it's working. I limp around a lot, and sometimes when the muscle spasms occurs I startle myself and my students. My knees and the base of my middle toe swells. Feels like a burning sensation. Feels good just to be at home to take care of myself. Anyway thank you for your advice.

Please let me kow if you have any more questions. i am not surprised that you are depressed, your life is changing outwith your control. I get low everytime i have a big flare up after a good phase, these have lasted a couple of years in the past. It seems that my body waits for me to try something new and then flares up, i once tried to join a gym, 1 month later i was back on steroids and not well at all.
It is good to stay at home and look after yourself, you will know when you are ready for more .
I find think long bubble baths and cheesy films help
I hope you are feeling better, i haven't heard of your meds but remember if they don't work there are others to try.

Thistle